Thursday, April 16, 2015

Prime Minister Narendra Modi of Sri Aurobindo, as he addressed the gathering at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on Friday, during his visit to France.

“There is much that we can learn from his humanism and spiritualism, from his belief in the unity of individual consciousness with the world outside; the enlightened purpose of education; the service of science; and, the unity of world, founded on national freedom, diversity of civilisations and autonomy of culture,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi of Sri Aurobindo, as he addressed the gathering at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on Friday, during his visit to France.

Mr. Modi made the address after paying a floral tribute to a bronze statue of Sri Aurobindo which was installed at the UNESCO headquarters in 2009.

For Puducherians who were tuned in to the news, it was a matter of great pride. The Prime Minister had paid tribute to a philosopher who has had a deep influence on Puducherry and has left a lasting legacy.

There was another reason for Puducherians to be proud. The bronze statue, over seven feet high, was made in Puducherry by a team led by Lalit Verma, current president of the Alliance Francaise here and owner of the Aurodhan gallery. “The people of Puducherry can be inspired that a philosopher who had made this town his home, occupies a place of pride at the UNESCO, and also because it was made right here. Sri Aurobindo represents India’s spiritual heritage, and his philosophy applies to every aspect of human life,” said Mr. Verma. The installation was the combined efforts of a group of around 30 people, he said. A similar statue of Sri Aurobindo was also installed in Parliament House, New Delhi.

Mr. Verma said that the event had come at an opportune time for Puducherry.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi before the Statue of Sri Aurobindo in France-Paris- this picture went around the world, and India can be very proud.The artistic work of the statue .made by the team of Lalit Verma, is impressive.--People ,who do not know Sri Aurobindo, but seeing the statue, will be inclined, to read about him , to get a knowledge about this ''great Man and his work''.